Indian Epics Blog

At this point, I am convinced that procrastination is a genetic factor. Both of my parents are procrastinators, and I am extremely guilty of it. I have a bad habit of eating my frogs all at once, at 3 in the morning! "Procrastination: A plot to put off things til the last minute". Source : Flickr All jokes aside, time management is a skill I continually have to work on. It's really important not just because we're college students, but also as, in the grander scheme of things, we all want to make the most of our time in life. I prefer working late at night, especially if it's writing. Thus, for me this is even more of a reason to start early and manage my time better. One of the articles I picked was "The Psychology of Checklists", by Lauren Marches e. One of the organisations I'm a part of uses Trello so it was interesting to see her perspective on time management, coming out of using the Trello app. I also use checklists as a strategy for time...

Becoming tech savvy in the online classroom... There were several different tech tools that I had never encountered before. Though I knew some of them, I didn't realise that some web services offered them for free (such as creating a website for free by Google). I think one of the coolest ones was Twine, where you allow people to create their own stories following certain links across the Storybook. It seems like it requires a lot more investment, since you then have to makeup multiple stories, but the result is an interactive and really interesting website. I've created graphics before using websites like Piktochart , and I enjoyed making them, so I am looking forward to being able to make them for this class. I was introduced to graphic design and image editing for one of my previous classes, where we had to make an infographic. Having class online certainly is a different experience, but learning these new skills is extremely relevant outside of the classroom. It also allow...

The early bird gets the worm... I have never had a class where you had the opportunity to finish early. Some of my courses have had the option to "work through on your own time", but this schedule is much more flexible. Finishing early is one aspect of the class I am really looking forward to, and so far, I enjoy how the schedule works. Picking the extra credit is also new to me, and I like the assignment "Tech Tips". As I have never made a blog before, I want to explore more behind creating and editing blogs, as well as maybe see some tips on how to change its appearance as the semester goes on. For the core assignments, I am excited to start reading! Additionally, being able to see what other classmates have written and created will be a good way to get to know them. I especially like that we will be learning about different feedback strategies, as I hope to be able to get better at providing feedback. Not only for this class, but moving forward in other areas a...

"Growth Mindset", measuring a growing mind. Source : Post by David Hochheiser, Edutopia Believing you can improve... I have encountered the concept of growth mindset before, but I didn't know who proposed it, and I had not heard about it in her own words. When I first became a tutor at OU, I was taught about Carol Dweck's growth mindset as not just a tool for students to use in challenging academic settings, but also the way in which we were supposed to approach tutoring. Focusing on helping students progress , instead of simply succeed has led to really effective tutoring strategies, including Socratic questioning (instead of simply giving an answer, you lead the person to the answer with a series of questions). Honestly, as a student, I don't always like when people use Socratic questioning on me, especially when I feel like not even the parts of the problem make sense. But these kinds of strategies force you to find your own  way towards a solution, and...

Hi everyone! :) My name is Daana Roach, and I am a Chemical Biosciences (Pre-Vet) major with minors in Psychology and Biological Conservation. With this odd combination, I am (hopefully) going to pursue a programme in Veterinary Conservation Medicine after I graduate. I want to work with endangered species and in conservation efforts, especially concerning marine life or big cats of the genus Panthera : Amur leopard ( Panthera pardus orientalis ), listed as critically endangered by the IUCN. Source : Wikimedia Commons Psychology isn't necessarily tied to any of these plans, but I really enjoy it. I grew up in Barbados , an island in the Southeast of the Caribbean, and finished up secondary school in Canada before coming to OU. I may  be biased, but Barbados has some of the most beautiful beaches in the region. It's 166 sq miles big (or small maybe haha), and has a population of about approximately 300, 000. Personal image taken of Miami Beach at sunset, Barbados....

1. "To Love and Lose: The Story of Hidimbi" I have not been exposed to the Indian Epics in detail, and so I was not familiar with Hidimbi's story before this Storybook. What captured my attention to this story was the writing in the first title and what posed as the introduction "Come, hear the story...". I admire when authors engage their readers with their work, and this introduction effectively made me feel involved in this story. It was as if throughout it I was sitting with the sage next to fire as he crafted Hidimbi's tale, just like the traditional method of storytelling in many cultures. The longstanding tradition of storytelling accompanied by a roaring fire. Source : Flickr The layout and design of this Storybook overall is really beautiful and eye-catching, especially the moving pictures behind the text. It was only a little distracting, but I really liked the author's explanation of their choices at the end of each page. For example, ...

The East Coast, Barbados I grew up in Barbados, a Southeast island in the Caribbean, and because it's such a small place, the coast is probably just a little longer than 21 miles (the actual length of Barbados!). Only the really adventurous swim on the east coast, as the beaches are marked by rough sand and sharp rocks. However, the view from almost any spot is beautiful, and the smell and sound of the crashing waves makes it a peaceful, almost surreal place: (Personal picture: taken from St. John, a parish on the east coast of Barbados) And here is a picture of one of the beaches on the east coast as well: Bathsheba, St. Joseph, Barbados. Source: Barbados.org *Fun fact: An episode of the 54 Season drama "The Days of Our Lives" was filmed on this beach" :) Ontario, Canada Many Barbadians move to Canada, including several of my family members. I've visited Canada a few times over the years, and I studied in British Columbia for the last two ...